The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-19
Name of Road.
Mr.. McKeeu's Deal with Ives.

Tomorrow the suit OF the c.. Fl. & D. Rail
road Company to restrain VIM. R. McKeen from
disposing of stock Of the Terre Haute & In
dian apols road which he holds as collateral
comes up for hearing before Judge Gresham.
Parties who have seen the answer to the COM
plant state that Mr.. McKeen is shown TO have
acted honorsbly through the whole transaction
as his numerous friends believed from the hour
the suit brought. In commenting this
transaction the Terre Haute Mail, OF Saturday,
says: 'Never before has Mr.. McKeen shown
much patience and forbearance as in the pres
emit com plicatlons of this railroad deal Reck-
less reporters have written all manner of rumors
about the deal. some OF it rejecting on Nil. Nc
Keen's course, yet he refrained from telling his
side of the story when it would completely
expose the falsty of the idle gossip
GUS of his success in life and
envious of his great personal popularity. MIR.
answer the complaint os the c., H. d D.
people in the United States Court. which ef
fectually explodes the insinuations made against
aim. In that reply. made on oath, Mr. Mckeen
tells the whole story of the deal, and shows that
In all that he has done in the matter he has
been actuared by sagacious business principles
and honorable conduct in every respect As
illustrating the mendacity of a few men 1T is
only necessary TO call attention to the fact that
when the trade was made and there was but
little information TO it's terms the report was
that he had not MADE good bargain. Now,
when more of the details known and it is
seen that on the contrary he drove good bar
gain, the same backbiters saying that he
overreached the Ives people"
Completion of the California & Or egon.
ASHLAND, Ore, Dec. 1.-THE California &
Oregon railroad was completed to-day. This
event represents twenty-one years of railway
construction. almost steadily pushed through
the project OF surrounding the noun tain ranges
of northern California and southern Oregon
The cornplishment undoubtedly is regarded
by commercial circles of the Pacific coast as the
most important in its significance since the
completion of the first overland railway system
in May, 1867. It affords for the first time all
rail communication between the cities of the
Pacific coast and places under the control of one
railway corporation an unbroken line from New
Orleans to Portland, Ore, a distance of three
thousand miles Its projectors contend for the
system from the strategic stand point that the
completion of the northern link is OF vital i'm
portance to the national governments de-
fensive measure in case of war and the rapid
concentration of troops.
Special trains from, San Francisco and Port
land brought large numbers of prominent gem
tlemen to witness the driving of the last spike.
the party from Oregon included the Governor
and other State officers. There were large
crowds at all points to greet the California train
and great enthusiasm was manifest Leaving
Redding for the north, the heavy train
drawn up the steep approaches of the mountain
by three powerful engines, reaching Sisson at
the sea level, at the bass of Mount Shasta
which rises 10.400 feet above Sisson.
The train wound around the great butte de-
scending into the Shasta valley. At this point
the stupendous character of the engineering diff
fculties in com passing the Shasta range began
to be revealed.
Ascending Klamath range, the railway forms
loops the track itself rising in tiers the road at
point traversing eighteen miles in accomplish
ing air line of one-thrd that distance. In the
forenoon the Siskiyou tunnel was reached. This
pierces the mountain for 8, 300 feet, and soon af
ter leaving it the companion tunnel of l. 400 feet
in length was entered. This last tunnel DELAYED
the construction of the road two years. At 4:4o
o'clock the train reached Ashland, where the
ceremony of driving the last spike was observed.
Mr. Croker struck the blows which completed
the road. and simultaneously fred cannon IN
Portland and San Francisco.
The president of the day, Hon. III. Davis, rep
reseutaiive of the municipality and the Chamber
of Commerce of San Francisco, spoke briefly.
After prayer by Rev F. c. Strong, Governor
Pennover, OF Oregon, spoke.